Instructions:
First of all, I shall instruct you about the salvation of safe childbirth. Sah, three packages of three portions for the three days. Three, three nines a hundred times. Offer this on the Kanrodai. Then the Main Service. Tell them of the Jiba, the origin. I shall bestow upon them the Grant for Safe Childbirth.
I have decided to upload an expanded series of commentaries on Song Five. I will upload more expanded commentaries on Song Six and beyond when I get around to them.
一ツ ひろいせかいのうちなれバ たすけるところがまゝあらう
一つ 広い世界の内なれば 救ける所がままあろう
Hitotsu / Hiroi sekai no / uchi nareba / tasukeru tokoro ga / mama arō
One / [This] wide world / within / saving places / there are many Continue reading Song Five (expanded), verses 1–2
Given that the Tenrikyo Resource Wiki (TRW) has been offline since August 2015 due to technical reasons, I have decided to offer my translation of Ryosuke Yamazawa’s poetic version of the Koki (Divine Record) here on Tenrikyology.com as well. Continue reading Yamazawa Koki manuscript in English with annotations
In the spring of 1882, Koiso Yamada, who was expecting a baby, returned to Jiba. Oyasama told her:
“This time, it is a test. When you come back to Jiba after childbirth, do not stop at Mamekoshi (where Koiso’s parents, the Yamanakas, lived), or at any other place. Come straight to this place. This is the true parental home.”
At eight in the morning of May 10th, while the rest of the family were out in the fields, Koiso suddenly felt labor pains. It was so sudden that she only had time to take off her apron and place it on the tatami-mat to lie upon as she gave birth to a chubby girl. It was a wondrously easy and clean delivery followed only by the afterbirth. When the family returned home for lunch, the baby, newly-clothed, was already in bed.
The husband and wife, as instructed by Oyasama, returned straight to Jiba two days after the childbirth. It had rained heavily the day before and the roads were still muddy. Her husband, Ihachiro, carried the baby in his arms and Koiso wore rain clogs. They passed by Mamekoshi but did not stop even at her parents’ home. Although they walked more than twelve kilometers, Koiso had no discharge nor any other physical suffering. It was a marvelous pilgrimage without mishap.
Waiting for them, Oyasama said:
“It is time for Koiso to arrive.”
She was so pleased to see them that She personally held the baby in Her arms, saying:
“I will name her.”
Further:
“As this baby grows up, the path shall prosper, and keep on prospering forever. Thus with the meaning of prosperity for eternity I will name her Ikue.*”
And so the baby was named Ikue.
*’Iku‘ from ‘ikusue‘ meaning ‘eternity,’ and ‘e‘ from ‘ei‘ meaning ‘prosperity.’
Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 85–86
Sadakichi Konishi of Kambe Village in Yamato Province was a hard working man who could do twice as much work as others. From a minor cause he became consumptive, and was spending the days in despair for he was pronounced incurable by doctors. At the same time his wife, Iye, who had had difficulty during the previous delivery, was pregnant with her second child.
Around March 1882, the fragrance of the teachings was spread to Sadakichi by Jirobei Morimoto of the same village. In spite of his illness, Sadakichi returned to Jiba with his wife and she received the Grant for Safe Childbirth. At that time Sadakichi asked Oyasama, “Is this god a god of only safe childbirth?” Oyasama replied:
“It is not so. This God saves man from any illness.”
Sadakichi then asked, “To tell the truth, I am ill with consumption. Can I be saved?” Thereupon, he received these words filled with parental love from Oyasama:
“You need not worry. No matter what your illness may be, you can receive divine protection. You must throw away your greed.”
These words penetrated deep into his mind. Thus, Sadakichi made a firm resolution. As soon as he came home he gathered all his cash together and handed it to his wife. Then he confined himself in a room in a detached house, writing “Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto” on a sheet of paper which he hung in the alcove. He prayed intensely, chanting, “Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto, Namu, Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto.” The only time he left the room was to go to the bathroom. He had his morning and evening meals brought to his room and he continued to pray day in and day out. In so doing, the color marvelously returned to his face and his coughing ceased. Before long he was completely saved from the suffering of his long illness.
In addition to his marvelous salvation, Iye also was able to give birth to a baby boy without difficulty. Without delay they returned to Jiba to express their gratitude. From the bottom of their hearts, they thanked Oyasama, who was very pleased and said:
“Because you became single-hearted, you were saved.”
Sadakichi said, “There is no happiness greater than this. How can I repay this blessing?” Then, Oyasama replied:
“Save others.”
Then Sadakichi asked, “What should I do? How can others be saved?” Oyasama replied:
“Earnestly tell others how you were saved.”
Then She gave him about half a pound of the sacred powder of roasted grain and said:
“This is a sacred offering. Have people take this with the offered water.”
Receiving this, he happily went home.
There were many sick people everywhere he went. Carrying the sacred powder with him, he went out to save others in the manner taught by Oyasama. They were all saved, one after another, and the number of followers increased.
Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 83–84
When Take, wife of Kisaburo Maegawa, was pregnant with her first daughter Kimi, she returned to the Residence to receive the Grant for Safe Childbirth. Oyasama said:
“Welcome home!”
and She further taught Take:
“At the time of delivery there will be no need for help from others.”
When Take began to feel labor pains no one else was at home. Therefore, in accordance with the words of Oyasama, she boiled the water, prepared the bathing tub, cut the umbilical cord, took care of the afterbirth, gave the baby her first bath, and dressed her all by herself without any help from others. With the full divine protection of God the Parent she was able to deliver her child safely.
Note: The birth date of Kimi Maegawa was January 25, 1880. It is assumed that Take received the Grant for Safe Childbirth in the previous year.
Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 57–58
When Oyasama gave the sacred sugar candy, She explained:
“This place is the Oyasato, the parental home where all human beings were originally conceived. Therefore, at this place I give you the sacred sugar candy*.”
She also taught:
“The first packet is the truth of initiation. The truth of the reason for the three pieces in a packet is the beginning of being nourished. The second packet is the truth of firm protection. The third packet is the truth that after being fully nourished, sufferings disappear. is the truth of the providences coming forth. Three fives is fifteen; therefore, it is the truth of the sufficiency of the providences coming forth. The seventh packet is the truth of nothing to worry about. Three sevens is twenty one; therefore, it is the truth of fully settled peace. The ninth packet is the truth of the disappearance of sufferings. Three nines is twenty seven; therefore, it is the truth of nothing at all to worry about.”
* Small sugar candies (kompeito) were one of the substances which Oyasama used for the Grant for Safe Childbirth. Presently, rice grains are used.
Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 52–53 Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 60
In the spring of 1873, Hyoshiro Kami married Tsune. Later, when she became pregnant, Hyoshiro returned to Jiba to receive the Grant of Safe Childbirth. Oyasama said to him:
“Take home as much of the washed rice as you want.”
And She Herself instructed him:
“Sah, sah, divide the washed rice into three portions. Have your wife take one portion after you get home, another when her labor begins, and the third one right after delivery.
If you do as I tell you, your wife will not need a leaning post, special dietary restrictions or an obstetrical binder. Let her use a pillow, and do as usual. Do not worry even a little. You must not worry. Never doubt. This place is the Residence where human beings were first created. This is the parental home. Be sure never to doubt. Once Tsukihi has said, ‘I grant it,’ you are surely granted it.”
Anecdotes of Oyasama, p. 28 Continue reading Blogging Anecdotes of Oyasama 34